Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra (Credits - Twitter)

Former India cricketer, Aakash Chopra has opined that Australia is a better-balanced team than India in ODIs, and hence picked the hosts as favourites for the first ODI scheduled on Friday in Sydney.

India will kick start their international season – post the break due to the pandemic – by taking on the mighty Australian team in a 3-match ODI series, followed by 3 T20Is, and 4 Tests. India lost their last ODI series to New Zealand earlier in the year by 3-0, on the other hand, Aaron Finch’s side defeated England in September by 2-1.

Marcus Stoinis
Marcus Stoinis (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Australia a better-balcanced side than the Indian team: Aakash Chopra

In a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra compared the expected playing eleven of both the teams. Chopra said that at the number 7 position, the hosts have Marcus Stoinis and India have Ravindra Jadeja. The Australian conditions will favour Stoinis over Jadeja. Also, the all-rounder had huge success in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals.

Chopra pointed out Australia has Glenn Maxwell in their top six who can provide useful overs, while nobody, not a single batsman in India’s top 6 has bowled in the recent past. The cricketer-turned-commentator also mentioned that Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are capable of batting and hitting long sixes.

In his YouTube video, Aakash Chopra said, “They have Stoinis at No.7 and we have got Jaddu. These are the Australian pitches, so the story will be different. Stoinis and Maxwell will also give them overs. So that is the other difference, that no one is bowling in our top 6 while they have a bowler in their top 6, so that makes the balance a little better. And after that Cummins, who bats well, Starc, who also bats well.”

Marcus Stoinis
Marcus Stoinis (Credits: IPLT20)

The 43-year-old said that in terms of all-rounders, Aaron Finch’s side has more depth than Virat Kohli’s team, whose batting drops from a cliff after number 7. Hence, Chopra believes Australia is a better, balanced side than India.

“So, if we see in terms of all-rounders, the Australian team has a little more depth. They have batting till No.8 or No.9 while our batting will end at No.7. So I feel the balance tilts slightly towards Australia,” Aakash Chopra added.

Also Read: Australia vs India, 2020: 1st ODI, Sydney – Match Prediction

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